A/N: Behold, a new chapter is here!

I hope everyone enjoys it, even though, once again, it's not as big as others :)

Not betaed (forgive the horrible typos you may find…)

Happy reading, and don't forget to read the notes at the end when you're finished 3

From Which We'll Rise

Part XXVIII: Endō Kamui

Key Country was a strange and silent place that displayed a contrast of scenery unlike any other that Sasuke had seen during his travels.

Despite having a vast seacoast, only the west side of the land was sandy while everything else was composed of grass that stretched as far as the eye could see.

The vibrant green around him was vast and abundant, cradling humongous rocks that seemed to have fallen from the sky carelessly, dropped by unmindful gods with a poor taste for aesthetics.

That land, where no flower could be seen, was eerily silent. Sasuke had seen birds and animals, but everything was so quiet he could always hear the sound of waves crashing on the shore no matter how far he was.

It looked deserted, yet he had heard about Jōmae village and the several hidden compounds of wealthy merchants.

Also, it was no secret to anyone that Key country was where the best spies in the Shinobi world were trained.

Sasuke was there in business for Kakashi, as usual, but he also had a personal goal in mind – a scroll he had heard about, that if well studied and perfected could be an important asset and a breakthrough as far as new Shinobi techniques went. For someone like Sasuke, who was able to travel through different dimensions, it would hopefully be familiar ground.

The problem was, aside from the intel he'd gathered that said scroll was in Key country, he had no lead as to where it was, where it had been created, or who owned it.

Apart from Hanare - the spy he had met in Konoha during his days in team 7 - he had known very little about the country or its people, so he had to do a bit of research to know what he was dealing with and who he was supposed to go to.

Kakashi's plan of creating alliances with as many Shinobi villages as possible was paying off, but Sasuke had been the first contact point for years now. At first, they had simply been testing his willingness and ability, but by now, he had become irreplaceable at the task.

Sasuke had a strong grasp on politics and knew well how to negotiate and navigate conversations regardless of the type of challenges presented, not to mention that he did study well for meetings with Kages or leaders. Sometimes, though, getting an audience was the most difficult part because everybody knew who Uchiha Sasuke was now, and they also knew who that same Uchiha Sasuke had been.

Needless to say that more often than not he came face to face with people who were ready to put him down at the slightest mistake.

Sasuke was granted access to Jōmae, and yet he had a hard time finding the right connections to get him an audience with the village's leader, even with a scroll personally written and signed by Kakashi granting him legal political powers to negotiate on behalf of Konoha.

The leader was apparently always busy, and much to Sasuke's exasperation had only accepted to see him in three days. It was a hassle, but at least this way he could prepare better for their meeting and try to get intel on the scroll he wanted.

Jōmae was a village half the size of Konoha but not as developed, yet it was modern enough, lively and organized, and filled with commerce that would be useful for resupplying and getting new clothes.

Sasuke didn't usually like to spend money on lodgings, but he hadn't seen lakes or rivers nearby where he could bathe and wash his clothes, nor a suitable safe place to spend the night outdoors, and the silence within nature there unsettled him. This was a country of spies, so he had convinced himself that nothing could ever be trusted.

Besides, he had barely slept for days, far too conscious of the unknown presence who had been following him for a while now.

He didn't know if the person knew nothing about him and truly believed him to not have noticed them, or if they were merely following him just until they found the right moment to attack, or whatever it was that they intended to do.

Whoever it was, they were very good at hiding their chakra signature, and even better at following him without a single sound, not once giving themselves away. Sasuke knew this because sometimes he could feel the person, and other times, not at all. He had to wonder if it was a slip or intentional.

He couldn't sense the mysterious person's intent, which led him to question if he was somehow being followed by a member of Konoha's ANBU for some reason, but the individual hadn't been tracking him for that long, so it didn't make sense. This person had caught up with him after he left Suna and Gaara and had tailed him ever since. Because he felt no murderous intentions, he let it be, but it was starting to get ridiculous.

Patiently, Sasuke went about his first day in Jōmae, asking around for information, looking for a cheap place to spend his days there, and buying a few necessities. It didn't take long for him to understand that the people there were quiet and that there wasn't much to do.

The next three days would undoubtedly be boring, which was a hassle considering he had already felt bored enough traveling there tirelessly after leaving Suna.

A little after lunchtime, he had checked in at a humble but clean Inn in a quiet alley.

Although he felt tired, Sasuke knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, for now, so he took a long bath to rid himself of the sweat and dust and put on the new black pants and sweater he had purchased while his other clothes were being washed by the Inn's elderly owner. Despite having bought food, the small woman offered him some leftovers, but it was still homemade cooking and tasted like heaven to him, who had been going without commodities for far too long. Not that he cared either way, but it was always nice to have some comfort once in a while.

Feeling renovated, Sasuke grabbed his belongings and his sword and left his small room, bent on leaving the village for a few hours to meditate and train, and ended up at the beach, which was completely deserted.

The sea was calm, the tide low, so it was easy to find a good spot where the sand was dry.

Carefully setting his bag aside, Sasuke removed his sandals and sat down with legs crossed Indian style, his sword still attached to his back.

Straightening his spine, he took a deep, calming breath and raised his hand in front of his chest, forming a seal meant to connect him with the energies of nature and tune his chakra channels.

For about fifteen minutes he sat without moving, feeling the soft breeze brushing his hair and the scents of the sea as the sounds of nature surrounded him. It was peaceful and relaxing, and just what he needed to get his focus back on track.

Unpredictably, he heard something cutting into the air and all he had time to do was tilt his head to the side to avoid having a kunai stuck in his eye.

Fast as lighting, he unsheathed his sword and got to his feet, looking around to see if there was a trace of the perpetrator that was daring to disturb his peace – his stalker, no doubt about it.

The person's presence was strong at this point, yet Sasuke couldn't see them or identify their location.

"You finally decided to grow some balls," he called out, sword in front of him in a daring stance, ready to fight, his back straight. "If you're going to attack me, at least come out and face me properly."

A sound resembling a crack echoed in the air.

"I'd be honored to."

The voice in his ear was slightly amused, low, and undoubtedly masculine, and Sasuke was certain he had felt a body behind him, and yet, when he swiftly turned to cut the air with his sword, another cracking noise could be heard and there was no one there – he could no longer feel the presence.

Frowning, he tried to focus. He had been able to sense the presence for days, and he was sure the guy was close by because there was no way he could've just disappeared to a distant location like that, but Sasuke couldn't feel him at all.

What the…

Another kunai was lazily thrown in his direction that he easily avoided. It was almost as if that bastard was mocking him.

Then, the presence became strong not even a second before a full body appeared in front of him, and Sasuke only had time to react and protect his chest with his sword as a kunai quickly moved and nearly stabbed him. Despite this, he could instantly tell that this man was not trying to actively hurt him – he had known his attacks would be easily blocked. This type of silent communication was familiar to Shinobi, who could sense each other's thoughts through their opponent's physical attacks.

For this reason, Sasuke didn't even bother to activate his Sharingan since his eyes were naturally fast, and yet, all he saw was a shadow of black before the person vanished again.

What the hell did this guy want anyway? Was he playing with him just for shits and giggles? That couldn't be it because he had been following him for a long time now, so there had to be a reason as to why he decided to show himself now of all times.

However, Sasuke was a fast learner and he had already picked up the particular feel of the man's reappearance.

Not long afterward, Sasuke felt the now familiar prickling in his skin, the atmosphere slowly gaining consistency and growing until it became a full presence, so he was ready when the air cracked right above him and the man seemed to fall from the sky, ready to pounce him with two kunai in hand. All Sasuke had to do was swiftly grab the man's ankle and make him lose his balance by viciously pulling him down, successfully landing him on his back with a violence that had to be painful.

Once the man was at his feet, Sasuke then immobilized him by dropping a knee heavily on his chest before threateningly burying the tip of his sword on the sand next to his head.

Scanning the man, Sasuke noticed he wore a black mask with red waves painted across it that covered his whole face, what seemed to be a dark, black veil attached to it hiding his hair. He wore black pants and a tank top that revealed heavily tanned muscular arms, and from how hard his chest was, he seemed bulkier than Sasuke himself, but not exactly big.

There was a moment when Sasuke's eyes met the man's through the tiny slits of the mask he wore, and they were sharp, lively yet dark, probably brown.

Suddenly, the man disappeared in a puff of smoke, causing Sasuke's knees to drop on the sand.

Clenching his teeth, Sasuke stifled a groan.

Unbelievable. This was no illusion, and he was certain of it now. This guy was capable of making himself disappear and reappear somewhere else in the blink of an eye, his chakra signature vanishing and returning to prove it. What jutsu was that? Teleportation? Did he travel between dimensions as he pleased? There was no other explanation that made sense to him, and yet, how could he possibly achieve that without a Rinnegan?

Getting to his feet and snatching his sword from the sand, Sasuke pressed his lips tightly in annoyance.

The stranger's chakra reserves weren't outstanding, and Sasuke didn't need his Sharingan to know it. Such powerful techniques required huge amounts of chakra, so how did the guy manage to do it?

Either way, this was nothing but a show. The man posed no threat, which meant he was purely showing off abilities he knew would interest him, so he was silently letting Sasuke know that he had something he wanted.

There was yet another cracking sound and Sasuke found himself face to face with the stranger that had been playing around with him.

The other man was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, and with his height – only slightly shorter than Sasuke himself, which was still impressive – he had quite an imposing stance, almost menacing.

"Are you done playing?" Sasuke said coldly, not even bothering to point his sword at the other man. "What do you want? Why are you following me?"

"I was hired to kill you and get your eyes as proof," the man said smoothly as if making a normal conversation. His voice was as low and silken as before, his words articulate and almost pleasant.

How predictable, Sasuke thought.

"You wouldn't be the first to try," Sasuke retorted, with a snort. "Surely you know that's a suicide mission."

"You underestimate my abilities, Uchiha Sasuke," the man said, shaking his head in obvious amusement. "The only reason why you noticed me was because I wanted you to. I've been tracking you for weeks already."

Sasuke rolled his eyes to stop them from twitching. While he had noticed the other's presence several days previously, to know he had been followed for weeks without noticing was infuriating. The man could be bluffing, though, so Sasuke knew to not take him seriously. "Am I supposed to be impressed?"

"Considering who you are, I'd say you're supposed to be embarrassed."

If the guy was trying to be funny Sasuke was annoyed enough as it was.

"Spare me the tasteless jokes," he snapped, dismissively sheathing his sword behind his back to mercilessly show the other he couldn't give a bigger crap. "If you're going to attempt to murder me, get on with it. If you give it your best shot I just might let you off the hook with both legs working."

The man chuckled – another pleasant sound that highly contrasted with his stance and appearance. "Ah, so you do have a sense of humor," he said, unmoved by Sasuke's bad mood. "Nice. I'm sorry to inform you that I changed my mind. I don't want to kill you anymore, and I'll let you keep your eyes. But I do want to fight you."

Sasuke's eyebrows rose, and while he was unimpressed by the man's confidence, he found it a little off-putting, as well. "Thank you for kindly sparing my life," he said, with a hint of sarcasm even if he was not smiling. "So you're here just to waste my time?"

"No, I'm here to do business with you."

Snorting, Sasuke waved his hand, turning his back to the man, intent on leaving. "Not interested."

"Not even if I tell you I know how to get the scroll you're after?"

At this, Sasuke glanced at the other, over his shoulder. The guy had been paying attention to his actions. "Don't lie."

"I'm not." The man uncrossed his arms, somehow creating a more formal position for himself. "I can assure you, there's no way you can get that scroll without me."

Despite himself, Sasuke turned to face the man again, annoyed that his interest had been caught. There was yet another chance that this person was lying, but then again, there was also a chance that he wasn't. "I'm starting to lose my patience."

"How about this? Why don't we spar a little, and then we'll talk business," the guy said, easily. "I can give you access to the scroll, but you need to help me out with something."

Sighing, Sasuke shook his head tiredly. "Why do you want to spar with me?"

The man shrugged. "Because you're Uchiha Sasuke, of course. Sounds like fun."

For a moment, Sasuke was reminded of his best friend – that was something Naruto would say to sound conceited. "Sounds like a stupid idea."

The stranger chuckled again. "Let me show myself so you understand I'm serious and have no ill intentions towards you."

Says the guy who just admitted to having been hired to kill me and steal my eyes.

But before he could say anything to dismiss it, the man was already sliding his mask and veil over his head, and Sasuke had to use all his willpower to keep a straight face and his expression completely blank because he was caught completely off-guard.

As he had expected, the man was still young, yet probably a few years older than Sasuke himself, probably in his very early thirties – but everything else was a complete surprise.

Well, Sasuke had no idea what he had been expecting – perhaps someone plain or even unappealing, face scarred and threatening-looking – but he hadn't expected to see that.

The man was probably one of the most attractive people he had ever seen, and even if he didn't exactly care for such details about people's appearance, there was absolutely no way he could ignore it because the other had a type of ageless beauty that was striking in its simplicity.

"My name is Endō Kamui," the stranger introduced himself, with a deep bow before straightening up. "I'm a bounty hunter, and also an assassin and spy for hire."

Of course, there was no surprise there, but Sasuke couldn't appreciate the honesty.

This Endō Kamui had long, sleek reddish brown hair that fell over his shoulders and cascaded down his chest, stopping at his breasts. It was slightly disheveled from having been tucked inside the mask, strands glued to his forehead due to sweat, yet this didn't make him look any less attractive. The rest of his skin was expectedly as tanned as his arms, a few hues darker than Naruto's but smooth, and his features were strong with a hard jawline, yet so perfectly symmetrical it was a little shocking. Sasuke had seen perfect white teeth behind meaty lips, too. Kamui's eyes, though, were probably his most enticing feature – in the sun, they seemed garnet, but Sasuke guessed they were usually dark enough to pass as black, perfectly almond-shaped and sharp, intelligent, and far too transparent for a man of his profession.

In fact, Kamui's whole face was so expressive and open that, for a brief moment, Sasuke almost forgot who he was.

That face was so handsome – features strong, yet sincere – that Sasuke was certain Kamui could get anything he wanted without effort. It didn't exactly help that he was in formidable shape.

Dangerous. The fact alone that Sasuke had been distracted by his looks was dangerous, and a first for him, and he was instantly displeased by it.

The worst part was that there was nothing particularly spectacular about Kamui, though, alluring as he was. Nevertheless, he could easily pass for a lord, or the prince charming of every girl's dreams.

It was absurd.

The man smirked knowingly, having noticed Sasuke's eyes quickly scanning him over, silent, and stiff as a rock. "Cat got your tongue, Uchiha-sama?"

Even his smirk was charming despite the nearly childish deviousness it contained, and upon seeing it, Sasuke felt a shiver of anger run down his spine as a helpless feeling of foreboding washed over him.

He couldn't understand what the feeling was, but it made his skin prickle with the overwhelming inevitability of it. There was no telling if it was good or bad, but he didn't like it.

He didn't like it at all. This person irked him and rubbed him the wrong way, and he needed to get away. The scroll be damned; he could find it himself just fine.

And the guy's jutsu… he already had a similar power with his Amenotejikara, so he'd just stick with it – even though it would be so much easier to move between spaces without the need to have a target he could physically replace, which was something Kamui didn't seem to need.

Whatever.

"We're done here," Sasuke snapped coldly, too quickly even for himself, feeling too irrationally upset for reasons not even he could understand. "I don't trust you. We're not sparring. I don't need your help and I won't do business with you, so you might as well try to execute the job you were paid for or stop stalking me once and for all."

Kamui's eyebrows rose a little, but he didn't seem unfazed. "I'm afraid I can't do that," he stated simply, his smirk having wisely shifted to a small smile that was almost appeasing. "I've wasted far too much of my time on you, so there's no way I'm letting you off the hook so easily."

Sasuke didn't even know what Kamui meant by that, but he didn't care. "It's not like you have a choice," he threw, frowning menacingly.

Kamui shook his head. "I'll let you think about it for a while before we talk again," he said calmly. "I believe we can make a good team and be very useful to each other. You'll see that if you give me a chance."

"Keep dreaming."

That weirdo could stalk him all he wanted, and he didn't stop at some point, Sasuke would resort to less friendly measures to get his point across.

Throwing daggers at the man with his gaze, Sasuke walked over to his things and grabbed them before promptly leaving.

Kamui's presence was nonexistent for the rest of the day, and Sasuke had to wonder if indeed the guy had been serious when he said he wasn't noticed on purpose. Wishing he wasn't as skilled as he claimed to be, was merely wishful thinking on Sasuke's part, though, brought about by his personal feelings of annoyance.

Kamui was who he was, probably trained to the best of the best, and while they hadn't measured forces, that bastard did have a few interesting moves. Who knew what other tricks he could have up his sleeve?

Sasuke didn't want to think about him anymore, but it wasn't as if he could help it. It didn't matter to him who was trying to kill him (it wasn't the first time, it wouldn't be the last and the person was probably fueled by promises of power and fortune, as all were) but he did want the scroll he was looking for, and he did like Kamui's transportation jutsu, or whatever the hell that was.

Kamui had genuinely seemed to simply want to do some business with him, but it could all be a plan to screw him over in the end, so Sasuke didn't want to take chances.

Granted, if that was the case, he would make the assassin pay dearly for even assuming he could fuck him over.

Whether Kamui was following him or not, this wasn't something Sasuke wanted to waste time thinking about – it had made no difference before, after all.

While he had planned to take a nap until dinner time, Sasuke found himself too restless to sleep, his brain working tirelessly as he tried to figure out what his next move was. Not doing anything didn't bode well with him, but there wasn't much to do in the city, and his hands were tied as far as meeting the leader went. Nobody seemed to know anything about the scroll, either, or perhaps they didn't want to reveal anything to some stranger.

He ended up going back to the inn to sharpen and polish his sword before spending some time reading a book he had borrowed from the old innkeeper on regional useful plants.

By dinnertime he was already bored out of his mind, so he decided to go out again and find something consistent to eat, which he did, fairly easily.

Still, even though he felt exhausted, the sense of disquiet didn't leave him. It was already nightfall when he decided to find a place where he could get a drink, hoping it would help his spirit to quiet down so he could get a good night's sleep.

He ended up taking a turn at a narrow street and finding what seemed to be a small pub, two humble middle-aged men standing in front of it as they conversed and smoked cigarettes.

They smiled disinterestedly as Sasuke excused himself to walk by them towards the pub.

The place wasn't as small as he had imagined, and certainly not as innocent, either.

The large room was filled with smoke and rowdy groups of men sitting at tables filled with empty glasses and bottles of alcohol. Several women of different ages pranced around happily in flowy colorful skirts and revealing tops that made their breasts pop out indecorously, and they chattered away with the men while pouring them more beverages with easy familiarity and shaking their goods in front of their hungry faces.

Well, those weren't mere waitresses if the sneaky manly hands grabbing their backsides and slipping inside their skirts was any indication.

The air reeked of sweat, dirt, tobacco, and booze, underneath it a hint of something that seemed like a stew.

Sasuke briefly considered leaving, but he was in no mood to look for another place when this one was relatively calm – no one seemed to be looking for trouble. He'd have one drink and head back to the inn.

Biting the inside of his cheek, he made his way to the counter, bent on not making eye contact with anyone, least of all the women – he could do without the attention.

The woman at the bar was probably in her sixties, her hair completely white pulled up in a bun, and her face covered in heavy makeup that had probably been immaculate at the start of the day but that was starting to melt unpleasantly at this point. She flashed Sasuke a large grin as soon as her eyes landed on him.

"Well, hello there, handsome!" She greeted, glancing at him and placing a hand on her curvy hip. "I haven't seen you around before, but you're very welcome to my establishment. What can we do for you?"

The question was vague but Sasuke knew what she was talking about, silently mentioning they offered all kinds of services – as if it wasn't obvious already.

"I'll just have something strong, traditional sake if you have it, please," Sasuke requested, raising a hand to decline anything else.

"Right away!"

As he carefully leaned on the counter to not dirty his clothes, he heard a burst of hysterical female laughter come from his right followed by another, but promptly ignored it.

"I'll be damned. This is the last place I'd expect to find you."

Tensing, Sasuke clenched his teeth, recognizing the smooth, playful voice.

Just my fucking luck…

Despite his first instinct telling him to just ignore the voice, Sasuke's pride – and sadistic curiosity – led him to look to the side and confirm that right beside him stood none other than his stalker, the man that had called himself Endō Kamui and he wasn't alone, no – two young women stood at each side of him (they were employees of the establishment) their hands all over him a little too intimately. They both looked a little tipsy and giggled when they saw Sasuke.

"Oh, is he a friend of yours?" one of them said, gazing at Sasuke appreciatively.

"Come on, Kamui, introduce us!" the other urged, putting her arms around the man's neck. "He can keep us company, too!"

Kamui, despite having changed into casual clothes in tones of brown that were a little rumpled, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked very sober, his eyes unblinkingly watching Sasuke, his expression one of soft amusement.

It instantly made Sasuke's throat tighten.

"Don't be greedy, girls, you'll scare him away," he said, teasingly, and his little lopsided grin was so sly it made Sasuke's blood boil. "Beautiful as you both are, I don't think my friend appreciates your type. He's into more refined and specific things."

It annoyed the hell out of Sasuke that he instantly knew what the man was getting at.

"You do have some fucking nerve," Sasuke hissed, just as the women at the bar set a small cup in front of him and poured him some sake.

"Oh, excuse me if I got it wrong," Kamui said, taking one last drag of his cigarette before expelling the smoke and smashing it into an ashtray on the counter. "I'm merely trying to protect your interests."

"Fuck you."

Slamming several coins on the counter, Sasuke downed his sake and turned his back on the three.

God, the man pissed him off. He didn't even know what it was, and he wasn't prone to being angry at strangers easily – he rarely found them relevant enough to waste emotional time on them – but Kamui was on another level.

It wasn't even rational anger.

"You upset him!" he heard one of the girls complaining. " I wanted to have some fun with him, you meanie! We don't get good-looking guys like him every day, you know?"

"What about me?" Kamui whined, falsely offended.

"You're a regular, you don't count!"

"But I can still take care of the two of you just fine on my own!"

It was with relief that Sasuke stepped outside into the night again, the fresh breeze caressing his flushed cheeks. He had to take a moment to take a few steadying breaths until he could find himself in a dignified state that was more like himself. Once he managed it, he began walking down the alley, bent on returning to the Inn and finally getting some much-needed rest.

Seeing that irritating man surrounded by those two women in such an environment made his disgust grow for reasons he couldn't fathom, but he couldn't let it get to him because it was stupid.

This was the first time in a long while since he'd felt this blind exasperation towards another human being, a stranger nonetheless, and he didn't even know why because he was so taken aback by his own unusual emotions that he couldn't read himself at all.

In all honesty, he didn't want to.

"Did you think about my proposal?"

Startled, Sasuke stopped in his tracks and spun in his heels to find Kamui there, hands shoved inside the pockets of his brown pants. His hair was loose as it had been a few hours previously and a few healthy strands swayed in the breeze.

The man looked calm, unpreoccupied and so infuriatingly casual and mundane that his attractiveness felt offensive.

Sasuke wanted to find him vulgar, yet couldn't. There was in Kamui such a misplaced simplicity that it was disturbing, like someone grande who didn't belong in this world of ordinary people with ordinary lives, yet he had embraced and somehow accepted it like a humble man.

Sasuke could tell the guy was far from ordinary, yet there was nothing extraordinarily complicated about him aside from all the preconceptions he made about him.

The fact alone that he hadn't felt his presence, nor heard the man's steps behind him made every nerve in his body stand on edge.

How could someone so plain cause him such a sense of disquiet?

Kamui had chosen not to be sensed, just as he had said, and Sasuke could've been easily caught in a trap. It was an extraordinary ability.

Perhaps Sasuke had underestimated him. This was an opponent he could not trust, far too difficult to read and predict.

He hated that he was a little impressed while simultaneously furious at himself again for having let his guard down.

"What fucking proposal, and why are you still following me?" Sasuke hissed, not bothering to hide his frustration.

"Because I need your help and you could gain something out of it," Kamui spoke as if it was obvious. "As they say, we could wipe each other's asses."

Vulgar words – as Sasuke often used – were uttered with a steady voice and eloquent speech.

"I told you I'm not interested," Sasuke declined coldly. "You can wipe your own ass. You'll need it after your contractors find out you took their money and didn't keep your part of the deal."

"I only took a small percentage of the job's worth; they won't bother me out of fear. I'm the best at what I do." It was said easily, confidently, yet without conceit.

Sasuke made a disgusted face. "Great. Points to you for credibility, then."

Nonchalantly, he resumed walking, fast enough to put some distance between him and the man, but not enough to seem somewhat anxious.

"Sasuke!"

While his brain had told him to ignore the man, Sasuke's mouth had other ideas. "Don't address me as if you know me!" he threw.

Just as he was stepping out of the alley and into the main street, the now familiar cracking sound whipped through the air, and in less than a second, Kamui was standing in front of him, once again forcing him to stop in his tracks and audibly groan.

It was only because he was in no mood to fight and get in trouble in strange lands that he didn't take care of Kamui then and there.

"Don't you want to learn how to do this?" Kamui asked, tilting his head to the side, very obviously aware of Sasuke's interest in said jutsu. "This is a technique my clan created that increases speed, yet there's also another jutsu involved if you want to conceal your chakra signature, so it's not as simple as it seems. Because it requires too much chakra, it's difficult to master. You're naturally fast, so with your skills, imagine what you could do. I have a copy of the scroll right here. I can give it to you."

Bringing a hand to a leather purse he had wrapped around his waist, he rummaged through it and fished out a small scroll that he waved slightly so Sasuke could see it, before unwrapping it slightly to reveal that it had words written on it related to said technique. Sasuke hated that this straightforward approach caught his attention, but he couldn't help it.

"Are you insane?" he asked, frowning heavily. "You don't simply give away a clan's heirloom to a stranger, that's sacrilegious. Not even a copy."

"You haven't heard my proposal yet," Kamui countered as he carefully rolled the scroll again, and while his expression was serene, he wasn't smiling, which made him look oddly enigmatic. "What I need from you has a high price, so this is nothing."

"That only makes me even less interested than before."

Even if Sasuke said this, he was bluffing because, despite his better judgment, he was feeling shamelessly curious. What could this man, who was surely trained to be more than capable of solving every problem he had himself, need from him of all people? They were strangers and just a few days ago, Sasuke had been this man's target.

The change of heart was suspicious, but if Kamui was as smart as he seemed, he would know well that, skilled as he was, he certainly did not have a chance of ever defeating Sasuke.

Or so Sasuke wanted to believe.

It maddened him that he was still sticking around and making pointless conversation when he should've just pushed this asshole to the side and got on with his life.

Sure, he had been making connections during his travels, and he wasn't exactly one to judge people by their professional pursuits or life choices, but this wasn't a person he rationally believed he could trust, yet a surprising part of him (that was stupid and gullible, it seemed) couldn't help but want to stick around and find out more, just to make sure.

Something told him he'd get in too deep, and because he didn't know what that meant, he didn't know if he wanted to.

Even if he had been bored out of his mind before Kamui had stepped in.

"I'm not a resident of Jōmae but I've lived in this country my whole life. I can help you get any information you need." Kamui spoke with convincing conviction and seriousness that Sasuke hadn't seen in him before. "Say you'll listen to what I have to say and I'll give you this copy and get you a hearing with the leader first thing in the morning. If you accept my proposal and help me, I'll give you the original scroll and the original scroll you are after."

Clenching his teeth, Sasuke took a sharp intake of breath through his nose, feeling his muscles tremble in outrage – more at himself than at the man daringly standing in front of him. His eyes stared daggers into Kamui's calm dark ones.

This might help him speed things along as far as business with Jōmae went but…

He didn't like it that Kamui's offer seemed appealing. He didn't like staring into the guy's eyes and somehow felt like he was being honest, and he didn't like the bothersome curiosity that ate at him – about who Kamui truly was and the deal he wanted to make.

It irked him that Kamui had been studying him and seemed to know well how to work around him. That there was surprising ease in how their gazes met, almost as if they weren't strangers, made Sasuke feel like something was off that he couldn't quite place.

There was no way that he would simply trust this person just because.

To say that Sasuke felt affronted was an understatement. This was completely new to him and he was not ready for this.

"You better get out of my face," Sasuke ended up saying, somehow having managed to level his voice so it sounded composed, yet warning. "You stink, you're drunk, and I don't trust a single thing that's coming out of your mouth."

None of that was true, though, but he felt better being insulting – it reminded him of the times in team 7 when he'd constantly harass Naruto to convince himself that he was a nuisance he didn't care about.

At this, Kamui all but released a small laugh. "If I didn't know almost everything there is to know about you, I would not have considered approaching you like this; but it's exactly because I know who you are that I wanted to," he admitted, his words somehow bringing a sour taste to Sasuke's mouth. "You'd change your mind about me, too, if you got to know me a little better."

It was because Sasuke shared the same feeling that he hated this. Listening to Kamui speak gave him another feeling of foreboding he couldn't shake off.

Absently, Kamui tapped his chest with the scroll and shook his head a little, eyeing Sasuke sympathetically, but not with pity.

"Where do you want me to start?" he began, with pretended thoughtfulness, knowing from Sasuke's unmoving position that he had grabbed his attention at least a little. "I know you're a war hero despite still being considered a criminal for past crimes you committed legitimately to avenge your clan. I know you're married to a woman you don't love and have a daughter that's not hers. I also know you have an adopted son and a lover. I'm still trying to figure out whether that's Uzumaki Naruto or Suna's Kazekage. Perhaps both? Either way, I'm impressed by your taste in men; you certainly don't sell yourself short."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, teeth sinking hard on his lower lip. "How did you…"

"You dislike sweet things but love raw fruits and vegetables," Kamui proceeded, eyes challengingly glued to Sasuke's, fearlessly. "You're a traveler, yet take good care of your belongings and are always meticulously clean unless you can't help it. You don't have vices or expensive tastes. You're building a village. You work hard and study hard, yet you possess a natural intelligence and can easily retain information. Your temper is short, which is why I was curious to tease you."

"Are you done?" Sasuke snapped, on the verge of starting to shake he was so pissed, but still, for some unholy reason, rooted to the spot.

"Oh no, the list is extensive. I can go way back into your past and tell you all the things I know if you want," Kamui assured him, smiling. "About your clan, your team, Orochimaru, your brother…"

Finally snapping, Sasuke's hand was quick as lightning to reach out and wrap around the man's throat before viciously pulling him forth so they were eye to eye, faces mere inches away from each other. He had a feeling Kamui could've dodged him but didn't if the lack of shock in his face was any indication.

Still, he didn't miss the way the man's breath shook slightly at the proximity, nor the way his eyes lit up in self-satisfaction. He also didn't miss how hard the column of Kamui's neck was or how powerful the thumping of his pulse was under his fingers. Noticing it made an unwanted surge of adrenaline rush down Sasuke's body.

"You better shut your trap now, Kamui, or I swear you will have a first-class introduction to how bad my temper can get," Sasuke hissed in the man's face, giving his throat a menacing squeeze that, really, only served to make the other tremble gently, yet not in fear.

There wasn't a single trace of fear in Kamui's body that Sasuke could sense, even if he wasn't concealing his chakra signature at this point.

This was a man that was not afraid of anything, not even death, and it was both fascinating and disturbing.

It was also ironic that he also didn't stink, even if he did smell a bit of tobacco, but mostly of freshly washed clothes and lavender.

"Don't threaten me while saying my name like this, I might just get a taste for it," Kamui had the gall to tease, shamelessly running his eyes across Sasuke's features with open curiosity (or was it interest?), and again, the Uchiha was taken aback by the other's physical and vocal response, for a moment feeling absurdly confused.

"Oh, for fuck's sake; you're disgusting," Sasuke grunted, releasing him abruptly, more to relieve himself of the unwanted tension he felt. "If blackmailing is your idea of a good way to get me on board, let me tell you now, it's absolute shit ."

"I don't mean to blackmail you, I just want us to help each other," Kamui said, massaging his throat with his free hand, and the smile on his lips diminished to be replaced by what seemed like disappointment. "It's exactly because of your story that I thought you would be… suitable for what I need. We're not so different, you and I."

"I see no resemblance at all."

"I think my offer is appealing, Sasuke. You can't get those scrolls without me?"

"Stop lying."

Without another word, Sasuke purposefully shoved Kamui out of his way and resumed walking, granted, not as fast as he had before, this time, not stopping when the man joined him by walking beside him.

"The scroll you're after belongs to my clan, too," Kamui persisted, his voice completely serious now as he was probably reaching a point of impatience. "You belonged to one. You know how it works. No one but a bearer of the same Kekkei Genkai will be able to find the place they've been sealed at."

"Leave me alone."

"Look, I know where the scroll is, and it is sealed away, so you won't be able to reach it no matter what you do. Not even I can reach it at this point." Sasuke merely threw him a sideways glance, unimpressed, yet Kamui seemed confident. "But together, we can. You help me, and I'll get it for you. I'll hand it to you on the spot." He shook the scroll in front of Sasuke's face again. "This is a copy I created because this jutsu was taught to me. But there are no copies of the other one, I don't know how to replicate it because I have never even opened the original scroll. No one could perform that except my great grandfather, the person who invented it, so very few tried, myself included."

"It makes my blood boil listening to you talking like this," Sasuke grunted, pushing Kamui's hand away from his face. "Why would you simply give such an exceptional thing away so easily? It just makes you seem even more suspicious and untrustworthy to me."

"As I said, you haven't heard my story yet," Kamui insisted, his mask of composure falling so he now sounded exasperated. "I have nothing to lose. That scroll means nothing to me, and I'd rather it land in the hands of someone who I know could master it and turn it into something useful. If anyone can do it, it's you. You're one of the most powerful men walking this earth, I know that. I have responsibilities. I can't afford to betray you. Besides, I need you. You can punish me in any way you see fit if things don't go as you want. Please, Sasuke."

What was this guy talking about, he had nothing to lose. Did he not care about anything at all? What could be so serious that he didn't care about losing his clan's heirloom?

Even if it consumed him, Sasuke couldn't help but wonder. As they walked, he locked eyes with Kamui's clever ones, that now burned with sincere hope, and pleading.

What clan did he belong to? Did this man have a family or children? How powerful and masterful was he, to have gone so far as to dig so deeply into the past of someone he was meant to kill? How he had even gotten ahold of so much information on him was astounding enough when so many had no idea of any of this.

What went through his mind to not fear for his own life in such a reckless way? Maybe, like ANBU, it was a thing of spy training, but it didn't seem to be the case.

The fact that he looked so simple and so open, so sincere only made it worse.

I hate him.

And Sasuke was sure he did. Still…

" Fine, I'll listen to what you have to say tomorrow after you grant me a hearing with the leader," he conceded somewhat begrudgingly before snatching the scroll from Kamui's grasp. "And I'm taking this with me."

This time, Sasuke felt it in Kamui's chakra – the shock at being accepted, the sheer gratefulness and joy he was experiencing at the chance, the same that also came accompanied by something darker, lurking underneath like poison. It hit Sasuke unexpectedly and felt like restlessness, sadness, or even grief. Sasuke didn't understand why Kamui had decided to share it with him, but it was certainly intentional.

"Thank you." Kamui sounded genuinely grateful, yet didn't smile, finally stopping in his tracks. With a sigh, Sasuke stopped, too, only to see the man bowing down to him formally. "I won't be bothering you anymore. I'll meet you at the Inn you're staying at, at 8 in the morning."

Feeling stupid, Sasuke blinked down at the back of the man's head, oddly fascinated by the way his fluid hair billowed in the breeze.

That was it? Was all it took to get him off his back a simple promise to be heard? It was ridiculous and a little pitiful, too.

"Right," he mumbled, suddenly uncomfortable and horribly self-conscious.

Kamui straightened up slowly, and this was the first time that Sasuke noticed how graceful, yet relaxed the way he moved was, a demeanor of someone who had probably been brought up in a wealthy environment, or perhaps, considering he came from a clan, a highly traditional family.

They exchanged yet another look, but this one was silent and lasted for far longer than necessary and Sasuke didn't understand why, but it was easy to look at the man's face because it was so fucking handsome and devoid of malice despite how cheeky his smirk could get.

Looking into that face made a sense of peace fall over Sasuke, yet he didn't trust that feeling.

Regardless, it didn't help that Kamui seemed equally interested in Sasuke's face, almond gaze scanning his features with obvious appreciation.

For someone who'd had so much to say, Kamui had certainly gotten quiet, and while he seemed under no circumstance embarrassed, he was clearly at a loss for what to say, which was unexpected, to say the least.

"Unless you'd like to join me and the ladies?" he eventually said out of the blue, as if continuing a previous conversation. "I'll buy you a drink. I was under the impression you were looking for some stress relief, and they seemed to like you."

Blinking quickly, Sasuke cleared his throat. "As you said, you can handle both just fine, and I don't need, nor want you to buy me anything," he refused, even if his voice had gotten less aggressive. "The less time we spend together the better."

"Why?" Kamui inquired softly, genuinely curious. "Do you dislike me that much already? You don't even know me."

"Thank heavens," Sasuke replied, but didn't bother to elaborate on the rest. "Just leave me alone, yes?"

At this, Kamui finally smiled at him again and nodded. "As you wish," he said, and when Sasuke went on his way, he finally made no movement to follow after him. "Sweet dreams, Uchiha-sama."

TBC…

And our newest character has finally been introduced! Here is Kamui, and I hope everyone was as excited reading about him as I was excited writing him.

I know he seems like a little bit of an annoyance right now, but I promise everything will be clarified in the next chapter as we'll get to know more about him, his story, and what he needs from Sasuke.

I wasn't going to introduce his and Sasuke's background so soon, but upon a little consideration, I realized that doing so later would be a little confusing with the next events of the story and it wouldn't fit very well.

My apologies to those who don't care about Kamui's existence, but this part of the story is necessary, and it will take over the next two or three chapters. Since this plot idea is fresh in my mind, I'm hoping I can get it done and over with fast enough.

Either way, please give the man a chance ;)

Also, PLEASE, do comment on the chapter and let me know your thoughts on Kamui at this point! OCs are always a challenge for us fanfic writers, so I'd be more than honored to know my readers' opinions!

As usual, thank you all for the incredible support and patience you guys have been having with me and the story, it means the world to me!

See y'all soon!